Honor Farmer Contracts Act
The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would direct the Department of Agriculture to immediately unfreeze funding for contracts and written agreements entered into before the bill’s enactment, and to pay any past-due amounts owed under those contracts. It would also protect farmers and entities that provide agricultural assistance from having signed contracts canceled except for documented noncompliance, and it would require that any planned closures of Farm Service Agency county offices, Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices, or Rural Development Local Service Centers receive written notice and justification to Congress at least 60 days before the closure date. The overarching aim is to preserve existing contractual commitments and prevent abrupt service disruptions to farmers, while maintaining congressional visibility over office closures.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The Act may be cited as the “Honor Farmer Contracts Act.”
- 2Unfreeze and implement pre-existing contracts: The Secretary of Agriculture must immediately unfreeze funding and implement all written contracts entered into before enactment.
- 3Pay past-due amounts: The Secretary must rapidly pay all amounts owed under those contracts that are past due.
- 4Contract protection: The Secretary may not cancel any signed contract with a farmer or a farming-assistance entity unless the farmer/entity has failed to comply with the contract terms.
- 5Office closure notification: No close of FSA county offices, NRCS field offices, or Rural Development Local Service Centers should occur without 60 days’ written notice and justification to Congress.